HEARTS’ stand-in skipper Andy Webster has hinted he will invite Marius Zaliukas to lift the League Cup with him if they beat St Mirren.

Jambos captain Zaliukas suffered a double blow after being suspended for the Hampden showpiece and then sustaining an ankle injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.

When Webster won the Scottish Cup with Dundee United in 2010 he lifted the trophy with the injured Lee Wilkie.

And he could do the same with Zaliukas if Hearts win the League Cup for the first time in 51 years.

Webster said: “Marius will have a role to play, he is club captain. Obviously it’s disappointing from his point of view, firstly being suspended and secondly being injured, but he will still have a role to play in the dressing room.

“Let’s concentrate on the football side of things first, but that I lifted the cup with Lee Wilkie at Dundee United might give you an insight. We are not going to get complacent and our full focus will be only on the match and getting it right.”

Webster insists the managerial merry-go-round at Hearts won’t affect the players’ focus for the final.

We are not going to get complacent and our full focus will be only on the match and getting it right

Andy Webster

John McGlynn, who guided them to the final, was chopped by the Jambos last month with Gary Locke being placed in interim charge.

But Webster added: “The things that you focus on as a footballer are those you can influence, whether that is training or matches.

“You just take these things as they come and deal with it.

“Someone asked me the other week if you become immune to it, but I think that is a bit unfair.

“People are losing their jobs, our manager has just lost his job, so you are still saddened by these things but you need to pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and get on with it.

“I don’t know if it has brought us closer, but there is unity in the team. As a club we like to stick together.”